Alberta producers’ enthusiasm for political parties that support an oil and gas industry seems misplaced when unrestrained CO2 emissions could devastate the agri-food business before the end of the century.
Tag Archives Alberta election
The election is over; now Alberta’s real work begins
Rural leaders to press new Alberta government on infrastructure, health care and oil and gas well clean up
Alberta’s United Conservative Party swept rural ridings in the May 29 election — rural ridings that don’t border Calgary or Edmonton. That could raise expectations that rural issues will be addressed by the new government. There is no shortage of those, according to Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) president Paul McLauchlin. He said his organization […] Read more
Alta.’s oil tax repayment plan called into doubt
Rural municipalities question the effectiveness of a recent directive to force energy companies to pay their property taxes
The Alberta Energy Regulator is a provincial regulatory body tasked to deal with unpaid municipal taxes by oil and gas companies. The provincial auditor says it is not being accountable, landowner advocacy groups claim it’s not following legislation and First Nations want it disbanded.
Alta. farm leaders hope to work with new gov’t
Provincial groups say they want carbon tax exemptions, more research funding and improved international trade
Alberta farm leaders are congratulating Premier-designate Jason Kenney for his election win, hoping the new United Conservative Party government will work with them on key issues. Team Alberta, which represents the province’s main crop commissions, said in a news release last week it wants to collaborate with the UCP government on improving international trade, enhancing […] Read more
Alberta Party focuses on research, value-added
Farmers can expect an elected Alberta Party government to tweak farm safety legislation, as well as kickstart a fund to bolster research. The party’s agriculture platform, released April 8, says the party aims to grow Alberta’s agriculture industry by $1 billion through new programs and policies. The Alberta Party said it would create an agriculture […] Read more
Farmers want assurances on crude-by-rail plan
Farm leaders are still wary of Alberta’s plans to move more oil by rail, hoping whoever wins the election will be able to prove grain movement won’t be affected. The deal, which would see the province move 120,000 barrels per day by mid-2020 with smaller shipments beginning in July, came up during the campaign last […] Read more
Landowners want action on abandoned wells
Political parties spend little time during the election campaign talking about how to deal with growing problem
BAWLF, Alta. — Bill Leithead stops beside an abandoned oil well site near his home in Camrose County, lamenting the problems the industry has caused for farmers over the past few years. The site is on land owned by his neighbours, Larry and Linda Nikiforuk, who happened to drive by as Leithead discussed the challenges. […] Read more
Alberta rancher defies history to run for NDP
Fourth generation producer Cam Gardner says choice of party based largely on admiration for Premier Rachel Notley
Cam Gardner is a self-described unicorn. As a fourth-generation southern Alberta rancher in a region that has elected right-of-centre candidates for 50 years, he is running as the NDP candidate for Livingstone Macleod in the provincial election. It makes him a rarity. The constituency stretches from north of High River, west to the British Columbia […] Read more
Alta. leaders debate rife with attacks, but no clear winner
Alberta party leaders offered their best sales pitches last night to lure voters, but it’s clear no one came out on top as the true winner. The leaders debate largely saw NDP Leader Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Jason Kenney attack one another’s platforms, though they occasionally explained their visions for the province. The leaders […] Read more
Carbon tax remains thorny subject in Alberta
Most farmers are opposed to the levy because they consider it a cash grab, but a few say they don’t mind paying it
Jordan Schuurman has a different take than most farmers on Alberta’s carbon tax. The Edmonton-area dairy farmer doesn’t mind paying the levy, but he makes it clear he’s no environmental activist and is generally wary of government programs. But, he said, his solar panels that were partly funded by the contentious tax have been helpful […] Read more
